CHAPTER XX
BARBARA AND BEAUTY
"Barbara, you are eating very little luncheon," Ralph Ewing whispered inBab's ear.
Ambassador and Mrs. Morton were entertaining a large number of friends inthe dining-room of the clubhouse.
Maud Warren smiled patronizingly across the table at Barbara.
"Are you nervous about our riding this afternoon?" Maud asked. "Mr.Heller, do please pass Miss Thurston those sandwiches. She must wantsomething to keep up her courage."
Kind-hearted Franz Heller hurriedly presented Bab with all the goodthings he could reach.
"Thank you, Mr. Heller," said Barbara, gratefully. Her cheeks werecrimson; her brown eyes flashed, but she made no reply. Mollie, who knewBab's quick temper, wondered how her sister controlled herself.
A horn blew to announce that the luncheon hour was ended.
"Run along, child," Miss Stuart called nervously to Bab. "Now, do, praybe careful! I shall certainly be glad when this riding contest is over."
While the guests of the Society Circus were at luncheon the field hadbeen arranged for the hurdle-jumping.
Inside the green meadow four short length fences had been set up, aquarter of a mile apart. The girls were to ride around the field on theirhorses and jump the four hurdles.
Besides Bab and Maud Warren, four other Lenox girls had entered for thisrace. The riders were all skilled horsewomen.
Ambassador Morton waved his hand to Bab as she cantered by him on hislittle horse, Beauty. Her friends called out their good wishes. Babsmiled and nodded. She never looked so well or so happy as when she wason the back of a horse.
Ambassador Morton cautioned the girls before they started for their ride."Remember, this is just a friendly contest," he urged. "We merely want tosee you young people ride. No one may allow her horse to cross too closein front of another horse. Two of you must not try to jump the hurdle atthe same time."
The six girls cantered bravely down the field.
Maud Warren and Bab rode side by side. Barbara was the youngest andsmallest of the girls, but she rode her little horse as though she were apart of it.
"Don't sit too closely in your saddle," Maud Warren leaned over and spokepatronizingly to Barbara.
"Thank you!" Bab replied.
The girls were now riding swiftly across the meadow.
Ralph, Hugh, Ruth, Mollie and Grace left their places and hurried down tothe fence that inclosed the riding ring.
At the first fence two of the horses refused to jump. The other foursprang easily over the bars.
By the rules of the contest, the girls were not allowed to urge theirhorses, so the two riders went quietly back.
At the second hurdle, another horse faltered. This left the ridingcontest to Bab, Maud Warren, and a Lenox girl, Bertha Brokaw.
Barbara was as gay and happy as possible. She had no thought of fear inriding. Beauty was a splendid little horse accustomed to being riddenacross country. The beautiful little animal jumped over the low bars aseasily as if she were running along the ground.
Bertha Brokaw was the first of the three girls to go over the thirdhurdle. Bab was close behind her.
Barbara had just risen in her saddle. "Go it, Beauty!" she whispered,gently.
At this instant, Maud Warren gave a smart cut to her horse and crossedimmediately in front of Bab.
Beauty reared on her hind feet. Barbara and the horse swayed an instantin the air.
Miss Stuart rose from the chair where she sat. Mrs. Morton gave a gasp. Asudden terror shook all the spectators. Poor Mollie turned sick andfaint. She imagined her beloved Bab crushed beneath a falling horse.
But Barbara was not conscious of anything but Beauty. As her little horserose trembling on its hind feet Bab remembered to keep her reins slack.With one pull on the horse's tender mouth, she and Beauty would have goneover backwards.
"Steady, Beauty! Steady!" she cried. The horse ceased to tremble, and amoment later stood on all four feet again.
In the meantime Maud Warren had cleared the third fence and was ridingacross the field. Not a sound of applause followed her. But as Beauty,with Barbara still cool and collected, sprang easily over the hurdle,loud applause rang out.
"Bully for Bab!" cried Ralph, shaking Ruth's hand in his excitement.
"What a trick! I didn't think Maud Warren capable of it," protestedDorothy to her father.
Bertha Brokaw's horse was tired. She did not finish the mile course.
Now again Barbara rode side by side with Miss Warren. Just before thelast jump Bab reined in a little. She remembered the Ambassador'sinstructions. This was only a riding match, not a racing contest. No twogirls were allowed to jump a hurdle at the same time.
So Barbara gave Maud Warren the first opportunity to make the jump. ButMaud was nervous; she realized she had taken an unfair advantage of Bab.Her horse refused to jump. Bab waited only an instant. Then, urgingBeauty on, they rose over their last hurdle like swallows.
Barbara came cantering back to her friends, her cheeks rosy, her eyesshining with delight.
Franz Heller rushed forward with a big bunch of American Beauty roses.Flowers were the only prizes given during the day. Barbara slid down offher horse.
The Ambassador moved forward to shake hands with her; Bab's friends werewaving their handkerchiefs; but Bab had eyes for Beauty only. A stableboy had come to lead the horse away.
Barbara and Beauty Swayed an Instant in the Air.]
"Good-bye, you little Beauty!" Bab whispered, with her brown head closeto the horse's face. "You are the dearest little horse in the world.Don't I wish you were my very own!"
Ambassador Morton overheard Bab's speech.
"Let me give the horse to you, Miss Thurston," he urged. "It will give methe greatest pleasure, if you will allow it. He ought to belong to youfor the pretty piece of riding you did out in the field. Let mecongratulate you. Beauty's compliments and mine to the young girl who hasbeen her own riding teacher."
A warm wave of color swept over Barbara's face. "I did not mean you tooverhear me, Mr. Morton," she declared. "Forgive me. Of course I couldn'taccept your horse. But I do appreciate your kindness. Thank you forlending me Beauty to ride."
Bab took her roses from Mr. Heller and made her way to Miss Stuart.
"Child!" protested Miss Sallie, "sit down! I shall ask your mother neverto let you ride a horse again unless you promise never to try to jumpover another fence rail. Oh, what I went through, when I thought you wereabout to fall off that horse!" Miss Stuart raised both hands in horror."There ought to be a law against riding masters being allowed to teachwomen to jump over hurdles."
"But the law wouldn't act against Bab, auntie," declared Ruth, who wasfeeling very vain over Bab's success. "Because, you know, Barbara nevertook a riding lesson in her life."
In a short time Miss Stuart took her party home.
Ralph and Hugh were to return to New Haven on the night train.
"Miss Sallie," begged Mollie, as they made their way through the crowd,"there is Mr. Winthrop Latham. _Do_ ask him to come to tea with youto-morrow."
"But why, my child?" Miss Sallie naturally inquired.
"Please, ask just him, not his nephew, Reginald. Do, Aunt Sallie, dear. Ican't tell you why, now, but I shall explain as soon as we get home."
"Very well, you funny little girl." And Miss Stuart complied withMollie's request.
Mr. Winthrop Latham promised to call on Miss Stuart and her girls attheir hotel the next afternoon at four o'clock.